Mobolaji Michael
IN a targeted operation to enhance the safety, and security of lives and properties, and restore environmental decorum, the Lagos State Task Force on the Environment has apprehended 53 suspected drug peddlers, addicts, miscreants, street urchins, illegal street traders, and individuals involved in shady business dealings around Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Egbeda, Idimu areas of the state.
A variety of illicit drugs and narcotics, suspected to include Indian hemp, Codeine syrup, Colorado, and other substances harmful to human consumption, were recovered during the operation.
The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, emphasized that this operation marks a critical step toward securing relief for residents in and around Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Egbeda, Idimu, and their environs, who have been affected by the activities of these suspected criminals. Residents have endured trauma and safety risks due to the presence of these unauthorized and wayward squatters.
“The Lagos State Task Force remains fully committed to safeguarding all residents, and we will continue our efforts to rid the metropolis of individuals who prey on law-abiding citizens,” stated CSP Akerele.
The Chairman also reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to systematically monitor other criminal hideouts, black spots, and abandoned buildings and properties not in active use. This vigilance is intended to deter individuals with sinister motives, encouraging them to desist or relocate out of the state.
“These arrests underscore our determination to maintain a safe, serene, and conducive environment for all,” he added. “We will not rest until every individual involved in these illegal practices is held accountable. The 53 suspects apprehended for unlawfully engaging in selling and smoking narcotics, drug peddling, and street trading will be promptly charged in court.”
Alhaji Muraina Ajao, popularly known as Famous, a resident of the area, commended the efforts of the task force in ridding the area of illegal and unwanted guests. He stated that passing through Gowon Estate has now become a haven for residents for the first time in the last seven years.
The Lagos State Task Force encourages residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities through the ‘See Something, Say Something’ initiative, as public cooperation remains vital to keeping the city safe, peaceful, and livable.
Eighteen-Eleven Media